Learn Thai Cooking in Koh Tao

Sweet Sour Fish ปลาสามรส

Thai recipe – Sweet and Sour Fish

The many different sweet and sour sauces used in Thai cooking originate from China. And this is just one of the many popular Thai dishes coming from there. In the 15th century the Hokkien people migrated to Thailand, followed by the Teochew people from the late 18th century on, who settled mainly in the towns and cities. They were as well the ones, who introduced the Wok in Thai cooking and the technique of stir-frying and deep-frying dishes. The use of chop sticks and even the popular Thai breakfast Chok (โจ๊ก-rice porridge) comes from there as well.

Some experts say, that the original sweet and sour sauce comes from the province of Hunan and was just a weak mixture of vinegar and sugar. If this is the case, the following recipe has very little to do with the original sauce. This version of the sweet and sour sauce could easily be served as a vegetarian stand alone with rice.

What makes this recipe really Thai, is what the name already implies. Pla saam rot literally means 3 tastes fish and refers to the aim of Thai cuisine to appeal to at least 3 taste senses in one Thai meal. In my opinion, if well balanced, this meal even appeals to four: Sweet, sour, salty and spicy.